07.23.15

Top Democratic Appropriators Mikulski and Lowey Urge Republican Majorities to Engage Immediately in Negotiations for New, Workable Budget Deal

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Nita Lowey (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD), Vice Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee issued the following joint statement on the House and Senate Appropriations Committees completing markups of all 12 Appropriations bills:
 
“As of today, both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees have completed markups of the 12 Appropriations bills.  But our work is far from done. Now it is time to get serious about negotiating a bipartisan budget deal, so we can pass responsible Appropriations bills without poison pill riders.
 
“The spartan sequester-level caps on discretionary spending have resulted in Appropriations bills that hollow out America.  These bills fail to keep promises to our veterans and seniors, and shortchange critical investments in safe roads and bridges, education, scientific discovery and innovation, clean air and water, and our national security.  The sequester makes America weaker. 
 
“It is painfully obvious that neither the House nor the Senate is capable of passing any more Appropriations bills due to irresponsible funding cuts for life-changing and life-saving priorities, combined with divisive and ideological policy riders. 
 
“The number of legislative days before the end of the fiscal year is dwindling, yet Republican leadership has presented no clear path for funding our government past September.
 
“As the Ranking Democrats on the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, we call on Republican leadership in both bodies to end the political gamesmanship, and engage with Democrats to negotiate a new budget deal modeled after the bipartisan agreement of 2013, that removes the threat of a government shutdown and allows for responsible investments in America’s future.”